The Dual Narratives of Traumatic Memory: Reconstruction of South African White Identity in The Return of Elvis du Pisanie

South Africa navigates enduring conversations about apartheid’s legacy as well as ongoing identity dynamics. This article examines Paul Slabolepszy’s play The Return of Elvis du Pisanie to explore how traumatic memories impact and reconstruct white identity and the proper approach to address historical legacies in South Africa. Protagonist Eddie struggles with existential angst and suicidal ideation amid post-apartheid sociopolitical upheavals. A pivotal event—Elvis Presley’s song heard from his car radio—motivates his return to his hometown, triggering the reliving of traumatic memories. By employing theories of traumatic memory and identity, the article systematically analyzes the interactive dynamics between memory and identity, and adopts a dual-dimensional approach that juxtaposes trauma narratives with trauma healing. Research reveals that traumatic memory has a dual role: fragmented recollections deepen identity loss, while narrative reconstruction integrates these memories into a cohesive life story, liberating him from ingrained patterns. This “forgetting through memory” is not an erasure of the past but an active trauma transcendence and self-reconstruction. The article offers critical insights into the exploration of traumatic memory-identity relations and advocates for white South Africans to engage in self-reflection and take responsibility to build a democratic and multicultural new South Africa.